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Yokohama has announced plans to launch a new 4X4/SUV tyre – called the Geolandar H/T G056 – in Europe this summer. The new tyre features an orange oil-based compound which reportedly improves wet grip and shortens wet braking distance something that is clearly significant for European weather conditions.

Although just concept products at this point in time, Goodyear Tire & Rubber believes two tyres it unveiled at this week’s Geneva Motor Show hold potential to radically change the role car tyres play in future.

Formula One has completed its pre-season testing schedule, with Pirelli’s P Zero and Cinturato tyres improving lap times by one-to-two seconds. The full range of P Zero slick compounds was tested at Barcelona, and while the Cinturato Blue full wet was unused, the Cinturato Green got some limited track time in brief rain showers. Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery believes that most of the teams “are already well-prepared for the season ahead,” compared to 2014, with “significantly quicker” cars likely to become even faster in hotter track conditions when the season starts.

The new Volkswagen Passat will roll on two versions of Falken’s 16” Ziex ZE914A tyres. Debuting at Autosalon in Paris at the start of October, the new Passat had the Ziex ZE914 redeveloped by Falken’s engineers in Japan and tailored to the Passat’s specifications. The new tyre is also available as standard in an Ecorun variation – the manufacturer’s designated fuel efficiency boosting brand.

Yesterday evening, Chelsea Football Club signed what is said to be the second most valuable shirt sponsorship deal ever in English football when it entered into an agreement with Yokohama Rubber. According to The Telegraph, the deal is worth almost £40 million a year, a figure that puts it second only behind Manchester United’s sponsorship agreement with Chevrolet. The tyre maker has signed up with Chelsea FC for a five-year period that gets under way in July 2015, and in addition to the Yokohama logo’s presence on the shirts worn by Chelsea FC teams at all levels, Yokohama Rubber will gain representation through stadium branding and various advertising and promotional materials.

As the world's car companies gather in Geneva for the biggest event of the year, brand valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance has released its annual review of the state of their brands. Every year, Brand Finance puts thousands of the world's top brands to the test. They are evaluated to determine which are the most powerful, and the most valuable.

Chorley’s Weldbank Garage has won Large Garage of the Year” at the 2015 Car & Accessory Trader (CAT) magazine awards. The independent garage, celebrating its 60th year in business, emerged victorious following a competitive voting campaign, orchestrated on social media and in the local press.

CharityStars, an online charity auction house based in Milan and London, is offering a unique piece of motorsport history for sale: the overalls worn by actor Chris Hemsworth, who played James Hunt in the film Rush.

Swiss fans got the chance to see the Formula E car in action for the first ever time when the fully-electric single-seater drove through the streets of Geneva. The event, organised by Formula E's Official Timekeeper and founding partner TAG Heuer with the support of global partner Julius Baer, saw local driver Simona de Silvestro behind the wheel of the Spark-Renault SRT_01E.

The super wide segment, which refers to tyres with a tread width exceeding 325mm, has been grown exponentially all over the world in recent years. These tyres have been used in Europe as trailer tyres for many years, however more recently they have also gained favour in North America and their applications have progressively extended to cover drive and front axle fitments.

John Ferguson has been appointed Toyo Tire North America OE Sales’ director of sales. Commenting on Ferguson’s new role, James Hawk, president of Toyo Tire North America OE Sales, said “John brings a solid track record to this position, and has been a valuable asset to our organisation as we grow our business with domestic OE vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Dodge and Ram.”

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is assisting the Department for Transport (DfT) with a project to reassess statutory MOT test fees. The DfT is analysing garage running costs to validate the justification for an increase in MOT test fees to present to the next government, but to make this happen it needs financial costings for MOT test stations as a starting point to the project.